By – Dr. Mohit Agarwal, Co-Founder, Healthmug
Yoga is one of the six orthodox schools of Hindu philosophy, Nyaya, Sankhya, Vaisheshika, Purva Mimamsa, Uttara Mimamsa, and Yoga. Since there is no scripted history of Yoga, there is a debate whether it started 5000 or even 10,000 years ago. The practice is also a major part of Buddhism and its meditation practices. Most experts describe Yoga to comprise 19 different types with 66 basic postures. The popularity of Yoga in contemporary times around the world has been cemented as part of many people’s everyday life. Social media has also aided Yogis and teachers to share their expertise wider than before.
Today WHO has recognized more than 300 alternative therapies to allopathy. Some commonly known ones are Yoga, Acupuncture and Acupressure, Mud Therapy, Hydrotherapy, Aromatherapy, and Lomi Lomi Massage.
History and Relevance of Yoga
Yoga is known as one of the oldest disciplines, with its roots in Northern India. It is understood as the art of performing different body postures to purify the body and mind. India is still considered the epitome of this physical and spiritual practice. Research has confirmed the effectiveness of yoga in people suffering from back pain, multiple sclerosis, insomnia, cancer, heart disease, and tuberculosis. Other beneficial uses of yoga are said to be increased strength, flexibility, and balance in the body. Yoga also aids in lowering blood sugar and cholesterol levels, enhancing the immune system, and reducing stress. Studies also show how yoga is effective in relieving stress arising due to diseases in the body.
Unlike allopathy, yoga does not require a specialized prescription for each individual. The beauty of this practice is that it is optimum for everyone. The art of yoga is such that it allows the practitioner to target specific organs or body parts or the body entirely.
Benefits to the Physique
If performed properly, yoga and its breathing techniques help stimulate the nervous, circulatory, endocrine, and digestive systems. These core systems help run a healthy body which ultimately boosts the body’s immunity.
Internal therapy: yoga is probably the only practice that helps provide therapy to organs and internal glands, which otherwise may remain unattended to externally. It also helps foresee any instance of a likely onset of disease or disorder in the body.
Detoxification: by stretching muscles, and bones and massaging the internal organs, yoga ensures thorough blood circulation in the body. An optimal blood flow flushes out toxins from all corners and provides benefits such as delayed aging, a remarkable spark in energy, and zest for long periods.
Lubrication: Well-researched yoga posture help provide movement to some most rigid joints and tissues. Working continuously on such joints and tissues gets them lubricated, making them work more efficiently.
Benefits to the Mind
A trend study in Britain revealed that 70% of humans suffer from some or the other emotional troubles. This rate has considerably risen among adolescents in the form of anxiety and depression.
Releasing endorphins: yogic poses have been shown to lower stress hormones and release beneficial brain chemicals like endorphins and GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid).
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Delayed brain aging: studies show how yoga helps in slowing the natural shrinking of the information and memory retention areas in the brain.
Yogic Benefits in Alternative Medicines
Traditional therapies and medicines are common in both the Western and the Eastern worlds. Three well-known traditional medicinal fields include Homeopathy, Ayurveda, and Unani. These three fields are common to Yoga in providing natural treatment to the mind and the body through natural plant and animal based resources. These alternative techniques are also eco-friendly, which has become the need of the hour for the whole planet.
Yoga has become such a widespread discipline that there are journals solely working on research based on the subject. The escalated growth of Yoga in the West has gone beyond exercising and spirituality to include lessons on self-actualization, self-discipline, kindness, and truthfulness.